H. and W. Travers.—Birds of the Chatham Islands. 215 
my son, the numbers opposite the species thus distinguished have reference to 
those in Captain Hutton’s Catalogue. 
2. Circus assimilis. 
This bird is rare in the islands, and I was unable to obtain any specimens 
for skinning. I found one which had been dead for some days, but which so 
far as I could judge from the then condition of the plumage, etc., was identical 
with the New Zealand bird. 
11. Prosthemadera nove-zealandic. 
I found this bird on the Main and on Pitt Island, where it is not uncommon, 
but I saw no specimen on Mangare. I could detect no differences between it 
and the birds found in New Zealand, 
12. Anthornis melanocephala. 
This bird occurred in the greatest numbers on Mangare, though I also 
found it frequently on the main island, but more rarely on Pitt Island. Its 
note is much richer and fuller than that of its New Zealand congener, lt 
begins to breed in October, the nest being composed of grass and feathers, 
large and coarsely constructed. As a rule the female lays three eggs. The 
egg has a brownish pink tinge, and is spotted with a darker colour. 
Length, 1-05 in. ; diameter, *75 in, 
14. Zosterops lateralis. 
This bird has become very numerous, and is especially destructive to the 
smaller fruits. During severe winters large numbers are said to die from cold 
and hunger, During my stay at Pitt Island many were found drowned in the 
pig tub, and I observed in New Zealand that these birds frequent the pits in 
which house refuse is thrown in search of food. They appear to be car- 
nivorous. They are said to have first appeared in the Chatham Islands after 
the great fire in Australia on Black Thursday. 
21. Spheneeacus rufescens. 
I only found this bird on Mangare, where it is not uncommon. Its 
peculiar habit of hopping rapidly from one point of concealment to another 
renders it difficult to secure. It has a peculiar whistle, very like that which 
a man would use in order to attract the attention of another at some distance, 
and although I knew that I was alone on the island, I frequently stopped 
mechanically on hearing the note of this bird, under the momentary impression 
that some other person was whistling to me. It also uses the same cry as 
punctatus, It is solitary in its habits and appears to live exclu- 
sively on insects. 
